Lights back on for 96-year-old KCK resident

The lights came back on at midday today for a 96-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, resident who has been without power for three weeks.

The community came together to help the resident.

“I feel wonderful,” the 96-year-old resident said today. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you’ve done for me,” she said to the diverse group of volunteers who helped.

This week, a master electrician who has his own business stepped up to get a permit, provide electrical services, and rewire the resident’s home. The Board of Public Utilities and local inspectors had stated the resident’s home needed to be rewired before the electricity could be turned back on, for safety reasons.

Sergio Cervantes, an electrician with Serg Electric in Kansas City, Mo., along with Scott Brocato, devoted many volunteer hours to the rewiring project this week.

The electrician’s friend saw a news report on Fox4 News on Monday about the resident, then called the station, and the station contacted Janice Witt, who is with the Reola Grant Center. Witt and the Reola Grant Center have been volunteering to help the resident since last Friday.

The home was inspected today before the lights were turned back on.

There were many other community volunteers involved in the project. Additional work is being done on the home and property, and there is a work day planned Saturday to work on such things as mowing the lawn and tree trimming.

Witt said Rodriguez Mechanical Contractors volunteered to install a hot water heater and to work on the plumbing. Other volunteers were from Express Septic, Baker’s Tow, and KC Dentkrafters.

Witt said Ussery Body Shop is volunteering to do yard work, and the City Center Church in Lenexa, Kan., has offered to donate funds toward other expenses.

The 96-year-old’s meter was damaged, she said, when a truck drove through her back yard. The resident called the Wyandotte Daily last Friday, and she requested a news story about the damage to her back yard. The Wyandotte Daily saw a downed utility line in her back yard and did a story about the power being off. The BPU sent personnel out on Friday night to look at the situation, check the safety, and make an assessment. Then many community members started to come forward to assist.

There was a difference of opinion on Monday with one master electrician who said it wasn’t necessary to get a permit, while the utility wanted a permit. The electrician did not believe the current ordinance mandates upgrading the electrical system at an existing small house. The BPU spokesman cited safety reasons for pulling the meter and for requiring a permit. Then another electrician stepped forward to volunteer to upgrade the wiring.

Commissioner Mike Kane visited the resident on Monday to try to get the issues resolved and the power turned back on safely.